Since snow cover is one of the fastest modifications to the land surface albedo, the treatment of snow-covered surface albedo is important for the simulation of land processes in weather and climate models. The snow albedo formulations as used in some of the major weather forecasting and climate models (ECMWF, NCEP Noah land model, NCAR CLM3, and NCEP CDAS) were evaluated using satellite (MODIS) and in situ data. Through model-data comparisons and model sensitivity tests, notable albedo differences have been found between models and in situ data. The possible reasons for the model-data differences are analyzed and some deficiencies in land models are identified. These results will be passed to the developers of the above models for the improvement of albedo treatment (Wang and Zeng 2008 a, b).

Wang, Z. and X. Zeng, 2008a: Snow albedo's dependence on solar zenith angle from in situ and MODIS data. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, in press.

Wang, Z., and X. Zeng, 2008b: Evaluation of snow albedo in land models for weather and climate studies. To be submitted to Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology in August 2008.